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120yo homestead destroyed in Vic blaze

A 120-year-old historic homestead is one of several buildings destroyed in a grassfire that has swept through west Victoria, injuring six people and killing hundreds of livestock.

The double-storey homestead at Carngham Station was lost to the 1150-hectare blaze on Tuesday night, as Country Fire Authority (CFA) crews battled to save it.

The property's live-in gardener Ron Bolton said firefighters spotted the fire as soon as it started but were unable to stop the house going up in flames.

"(The firefighters) were standing there with me when we spotted the very start of the fire in the corner of the roof of the house," Mr Bolton told Fairfax Radio on Wednesday.

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"All the combined resources still couldn't save it, it just went up that quick.

"I hope they rebuild, we will miss the house, it was fantastic."

Mr Bolton said his home on the property was unscathed but his neighbours weren't so fortunate.

"Some neighbours lost pretty much everything, their houses, their stock," he said.

CFA deputy incident controller John Athorn said the fire took hold quickly after embers made their way into the restored home through the roof tiles.

"A 120-year-old building, there would be a lot of dry material," said Mr Athorn.

"It got a fairly strong hold and there was nothing they could do about it."

The grassfire destroyed four homes, including the homestead, 10 structures and killed hundreds of livestock before it was brought under control on Tuesday night, allowing residents to return to their homes.

A farmhand from Carngham Station saved about 400 head of cattle by single-handedly moving them across the road out of the danger area, a CFA officer said.

At least six people, including a Carngham father and son who suffered radiation burns to their face and hands, were admitted to the Ballarat Base Hospital for treatment.

Formerly owned by racehorse trainer Greg Mance, Carngham Station was a thoroughbred horse-breeding property but was converted five years ago to an Angus cattle stud.